Improvement in cotton-harvesters



W. T. READ. Cotton-Harvester;

No. 211,522. Patented Jan. 21,1879.

ATTORNEY vr1 PETERS, PHOTKLUTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGION. 0 C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

W'ILLIAM T. READ, OF OHIOOT COUNTY, ARKANSAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN COTTON-HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 211,522, dated January 21, 1879; application filed August 30, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. READ, of (lhicot county, in the State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Pickers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and letters of reference marked thereon,

in which- Figure 1 of the drawings represents a plan view of my improved cotton-picker. Fig. 2 is a side view. Fig. 3 is a front view; and Fig; 4 is a detail view, representing the adjusting arrangements of the machine.

Similar letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

My invention relates to improvements in cotton-pickers; and consists in the employment of a body for the reception of the cottonbolls, vertically adjustable for stalks of different heights, the front portion of the bottom being constructed with inclined edges, forming two sides of a triangle, at the apex ofwhich is an elongated slot, into which the cottonstalks are drawn by the forward movement of the machine.

The stalks are also drawn rearwardly into the slot by the arms of a revolving reel or rake rotating in the same direction with the wheels of the machine. The bolls are removed from the stalks after passing into the slot by two strippers adj ustably attached to the bottom of the body, and armed preferably with teeth projecting slightly over each side or edge of said slot whereby the bolls are removed from the stalks and deposited into the body of the machine, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The annexed drawings, to which reference is made, fully illustrate my invention.

The letter A designates the axle of my improved picker, provided with wheels B B, drivers seat 0, and a tongue to which the team may be attached. D represents the body of the picker, the front end of the bottom of which has two inclined edges, a a, forming two sides of a triangle, at the apex of which is the elongated slot 1).

In the forward movement of the machine the inclined edges a a gather and force the cotton-stalks toward the central line of the row, along which the machine is drawn, and into the slot b. c 0 represent the reel-posts, in which is journaled the horizontal shaft (1, provided with radial arms at, each having a cross-head, 01 provided with teeth 0. f is a pulley on the outer end of the reel-shaft d, around which an endless belt, f, passes, which also passes around a pulley on the hub'of the driving-wheel B. By this construction, inthe forward movement of the machine, the reel or rake arms are revolved in the same direction with the driving-wheel B, and in their revolutions strike the stalks and force them rearwardly into the slot 1), having a tendency also to raise the stalks pressed downwardly by the forward movement of the machine.

The rear end of the body Dis supported by the wheels 9 g, or in any convenient manner. On each longitudinal edge of the slot 1) are placed the strippers h, preferably armed with horizontal teeth arranged over the slot 1), and adj ustably attached to the bottom of the body by means of slots 1' and screws 1'. The teeth of these strippers or their edges project slightly over the slot b in the bottom of the body D, and strip off the bolls by the forward movement of the machine. The cotton-stalks being of different heights, it becomes necessary to the proper operation of the invention that the body D should be vertically adjustable for different heights of stalks. This result may be accomplished in a variety of ways. I accomplish this result by passing the axle A through two slots, jj, in the sides of the body D. Four standards, k k, provided with adjusting-holes, are erected on each side of the slots jj, and attached, two to each side of the body, in line with the edges of said slots.

The pins n a are passed through the adjusting-holes in the standards 70 k above the axle A, and set -screws 70, passing through said standards, are brought to bear against the axle A, thus securing the body D in any desired height by the frictional contact of the ends of said set-screws, thereby allowing the body D to be raised vertically up and down, according to the different heights of cotton-stalks.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The body D, provided with the inclined edges a a and slot 1), in combination with the In testimony that I claim the foregoing as adjustable strippers h h, substantially as heremy own invention I affix my signature in.

in set forth, presence of two Witnesses.

2. The body D, having the inclined edges to a, terminating. in the slot 1), in combination WM. THOMPSON READ. with the adjustable strippers h h and reel 01 d, I revolving in the same direction as the drive- Witnesses: Wheel of the machine, substantially as and GEO. READ, for the purpose set forth. JOHNSON CHAPMAN. 

